5/25/2007

Memo on Innies and Outies:

Memorandum
To: Archbishop Rowan Williams
From: Preludium
Re: Lambeth Invitations.

Given all the current fuss, and remembering your privilege, we suggest changing the criteria re invitations to Lambeth 2008.

Remembering that all bishops are part of the created order, they can be separated into two groups on the basis of navel type:

Innies and Outies.
Our suggestion is that:
(i) You invite all the innies;
(ii) You disinvite all the outies;
(iii) Your office devise a discrete screening process at Lambeth to certify status;
(iv) That you commission a group to initiate changes in the Nicene Creed such that added to the belief in the one holy catholic and apostolic church be inserted the belief that the faith can be held truly only by innies. Discussion of this doctrinal change could be added to the agenda of the non binding discussions at Lambeth.

This should then allow you to exercise privilege, inviting some and not others, but on the basis of random conditions of bishops, and with clear criteria. Point four will give Lambeth something to argue about.

We know you will find this solution of value, so we anticipate your note of gratitude and with the hearty voice of fellowship, say, "You are welcome."

We remain your humble servant, PRELUDIUM.


15 comments:

  1. Why do I suspect that someplace there's a plastic surgeon now thinking about taking out an advertisement in Episcopal Life magazine to "convert" bishops!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dear Mark,
    Thank you for this. I keep trying to remember that much of this is silliness; unfortunately, silliness that hurts and damages, but silliness nonetheless. And, for me at least, the ability to laugh at slliness is a great source of strength (because the "emperer" really isn't wearing any clothes).

    Blessings,

    Barbara

    ReplyDelete
  3. I remember an old Donald Duck comic book that had a story dealing with the philosophy of "Flippism." Flippism proposed that all decisions be made by flipping a coin, and the story recounted the interesting results of Scrooge McDuck applying the teachings of Flippism.

    Surely the ABC could give this one a try. Then all he would have to say is that he had no choice; heads you're in, tails you're out.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Well, finally! A solution that makes sense. The answer was hiding in plain sight. How could we have missed it?

    ReplyDelete
  5. O.K. I'm an "innie." If I were a bishop and rightly insisted in coming ONLY as a guest, what to do?... what to do? Would a plastic surgeon be able to take away my "shame"? Make me a "flattie"?

    quack, quack!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Fun!

    However, I've found that "preservers" and "pioneers" (or "pathfinders" etc.) are quite useful terms that fit church, political, and most other groupings. Each of the two has its own "schools of thought" and levels of intensity.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Unfortunately if you have had abdominal surgery through your belly button you can have your innie transformed into a sort of outie. Should we discriminate against people who have been outed through no fault of their own? Could this be considered an act of God?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Kind of like Seuss's Star Bellied Sneeches...

    ReplyDelete
  9. Mark! To think that I have at times refrained from commenting here because I thought you had a serious blog, and my comment was a little flip. Never again!

    ReplyDelete
  10. It is sort of a shame that this inspired approach to Lambeth came to you after the rev Mr. Falwell passed on. We have no one to tell us that an outie is a sign of sexual choice! Oh wait, I guess I just did.....

    FWIW
    jimB

    ReplyDelete
  11. Richard Nolan, I love your "preservers" and "pathfinders" nomenclature; it's much easier to keep straight than Kendall's "reasserters" and "reappraisers."

    ReplyDelete
  12. Cher Grandmere,

    serious needn't mean solemn: tsk tsk. As your lovely idea for a coming out party bears eloquent witness.

    the everlovin'

    ReplyDelete
  13. Clumber,

    Or a Swedish study about the health risks of alternative naval types?

    ReplyDelete
  14. Brilliant, Mark! So ... because I'm an out lesbian with an "innie," I get to be an insider in the Anglican Communion. "Free at last, free at last ..."

    I wonder: With all the data Louie Crew has gathered and maintains about the bishops of the Anglican Communion, where's the page where he lists the navel status of each bishop? I sure hope KJS is an "innie."

    ReplyDelete
  15. 24 JUne 2007 (even tide)


    A study of Sun Rays (Crespuscular)

    Running to find the end of the rainbow.

    Running to find that shaft glory--to be bathed in light.

    Bearing the soul to the divine.

    Seeking rest, surcease and cleansing all at once.

    Faith like a waterfall--full, abundant and never ceasing.





    25 June 2007



    Faith like a dream.

    Steadfast like a rock among the rapids.






    Quickly before the moment has passed

    Look into the water and see the gathering malestrom in the deep.








    Faith like a million droplets in a summer storm.



    Take delight in the rain.

    Move and have your being in it.


    "Be still and know that I am God."






    26 June 2007


    Clouds on glass.

    ReplyDelete

OK... Comments, gripes, etc welcomed, but with some cautions and one rule:
Cautions: Calling people fools, idiots, etc, will be reason to bounce your comment. Keeping in mind that in the struggles it is difficult enough to try to respect opponents, we should at least try.

Rule: PLEASE DO NOT SIGN OFF AS ANONYMOUS: BEGIN OR END THE MESSAGE WITH A NAME - ANY NAME. ANONYMOUS commentary will be cut.